West Ham are “desperate to get back into Europe” according to manager David Moyes, who saw his sides’ hopes of qualifying for the Europa League strengthened by thrashing already-relegated Norwich.
The win – thanks to Said Benrahma’s double, Michail Antonio’s strike and a penalty from Manuel Lanzini – puts the Hammers just three points behind sixth-placed Manchester United in the final Europa League spot, with a game in hand.
They also have the added security of being in pole position for the Europa Conference League should they miss out on the Europa League, sitting five points clear of closest-rivals Wolves
And Moyes said that his side have had their appetite whetted for further European football despite the disappointment of their midweek defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League semi-finals.
“We are desperate to get back into Europe. We’ve had an unbelievable experience,” Moyes told BBC Sport. “It isn’t something West Ham have had regularly, and not for a long time. The supporters enjoyed it and we had a great trip. We are trying to get into the Europa League or Conference League.”
Moyes admitted he was concerned that his side may not be at their best after their exertions in midweek but praised his players’ application.
“It was big that we turned in a good performance and result after one of the biggest disappointments we’ve all had in a long time,” he added.
“Any manager would think there is a chance of a hangover because you never know the way football is. We set the tone in the first 20 minutes and got a goal in that period as well.
“The players did a really good, professional job. We could have played better and on another day we might have scored more. We’ve missed regular goals in the past few months.”
Norwich, meanwhile, seemed devoid of inspiration in front of an angry home crowd as costly errors proved their downfall.
It took just 12 minutes for the Hammers to solidify their strong start with the opener. Jarrod Bowen fed Benrahma on the left after a swift attacking move, and he fired a deflected shot under Tim Krul, who really should have done better.
Norwich’s defensive frailties were in evidence again as Antonio made it 2-0 on the half hour mark. Bowen’s reverse pass appeared to have been dealt with by Grant Hanley, but Krul collided with his captain to allow the striker a tap in to an empty net.
Space was far too easily afforded to West Ham and they should have punished Norwich again immediately. Benrahma had all the time in the world to pick out a cross, and, with players queuing up to score, Bowen somehow fired wide from point-blank range.
However, he picked himself up and registered another assist, picking out Benrahma once more. The Algerian rifled a shot past a helpless Krul on the stroke of half time.
Norwich thought they had pulled one back through Sam Byram just after the restart. Lukasz Fabianski failed to catch a corner and the defender turned it home, only for it to become immediately apparent through VAR that the ball had hit his arm.
VAR intervened at the other end 25 minutes from time when Jacob Sorensen handled in the area, allowing Lanzini to step up and convert from the spot.
West Ham bounce back strongly
It could have been easy for Moyes’ side to fold after the disappointment of Thursday night, so their focus was impressive.
It may not have been the toughest of tests against opponents playing only for pride, but West Ham showed their intent as they started as they meant to go on, utilising the space and hurting the home side out wide.
Benrahma was one of two changes for the game and he could have had a hat-trick to further delight the travelling fans, whose buoyancy showed there is still much achieve this season.
Norwich going down with a whimper
The season cannot end soon enough for the Canaries. It is the third season in a row that promotion has been followed immediately by relegation, but there was a greater sense of animosity in the air.
The home crowd’s displeasure was clear at half-time and although there was a mini resurgence in the second period it did not last long. History suggests Dean Smith’s side will have a good go at promotion next season, and the fans will be desperate for that to be the case.
Player of the match
BenrahmaSaïd Benrahma
Norwich City
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Squad number22Player namePukki
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Squad number8Player nameGilmour
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Squad number45Player nameSpringett
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Squad number1Player nameKrul
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Squad number5Player nameHanley
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Squad number2Player nameAarons
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Squad number3Player nameByram
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Squad number19Player nameSørensen
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Squad number21Player nameWilliams
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Squad number17Player nameRashica
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Squad number11Player namePlacheta
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Squad number10Player nameDowell
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Squad number20Player nameLees-Melou
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Squad number7Player nameRupp
West Ham United
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Squad number22Player nameBenrahma
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Squad number20Player nameBowen
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Squad number15Player nameDawson
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Squad number9Player nameAntonio
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Squad number16Player nameNoble
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Squad number10Player nameLanzini
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Squad number8Player nameFornals
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Squad number5Player nameCoufal
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Squad number1Player nameFabianski
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Squad number7Player nameYarmolenko
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Squad number3Player nameCresswell
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Squad number41Player nameRice
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Squad number4Player nameZouma
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Squad number11Player nameVlasic
Line-ups
Norwich
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Krul
- 2Aarons
- 5Hanley
- 3Byram
- 21WilliamsBooked at 61mins
- 8Gilmour
- 19Sørensen
- 10DowellSubstituted forPlachetaat 71′minutes
- 20Lees-MelouSubstituted forRuppat 45′minutes
- 17RashicaSubstituted forSpringettat 45′minutes
- 22Pukki
Substitutes
- 4Gibson
- 7Rupp
- 11Placheta
- 18Tzolis
- 28Gunn
- 30Giannoulis
- 42Gibbs
- 45Springett
- 46Rowe
West Ham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Fabianski
- 5Coufal
- 15DawsonSubstituted forNobleat 67′minutes
- 4Zouma
- 3Cresswell
- 10Lanzini
- 41Rice
- 20BowenBooked at 25mins
- 8Fornals
- 22BenrahmaSubstituted forVlasicat 76′minutes
- 9AntonioSubstituted forYarmolenkoat 45′minutes
Substitutes
- 7Yarmolenko
- 11Vlasic
- 13Areola
- 16Noble
- 24Fredericks
- 26Masuaku
- 28Soucek
- 31Johnson
- 33Král
Live Text
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Match ends, Norwich City 0, West Ham United 4.
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Second Half ends, Norwich City 0, West Ham United 4.
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Attempt saved. Nikola Vlasic (West Ham United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Pablo Fornals.
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Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Lukasz Fabianski.
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Attempt saved. Teemu Pukki (Norwich City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Przemyslaw Placheta with a through ball.
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Mark Noble (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Teemu Pukki (Norwich City).
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Attempt missed. Teemu Pukki (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Przemyslaw Placheta following a fast break.
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Attempt missed. Billy Gilmour (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
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Foul by Manuel Lanzini (West Ham United).
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Przemyslaw Placheta (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Substitution, West Ham United. Nikola Vlasic replaces Saïd Benrahma because of an injury.
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Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Tony Springett.
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Attempt saved. Przemyslaw Placheta (Norwich City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lukas Rupp.
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Substitution, Norwich City. Przemyslaw Placheta replaces Kieran Dowell.
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Attempt missed. Pablo Fornals (West Ham United) left footed shot from very close range is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Aaron Cresswell.
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Substitution, West Ham United. Mark Noble replaces Craig Dawson because of an injury.
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Foul by Vladimir Coufal (West Ham United).
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Tony Springett (Norwich City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Goal! Norwich City 0, West Ham United 4. Manuel Lanzini (West Ham United) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
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